Gawa bans wife exchange practice

PARAMOUNT Chief Kalonga Gawa Undi of the Chewa has banned sexual initiations like spouse exchange, commonly known as cidyerano, among other retrogressive cultural practices.

Cidyerano is a sexual practice where men exchange their wives for sexual variety, while ‘Fisi (hyena) concept’ is a sexual exercise in which parents employ a mystery man (hyena) to test sexual skills of a girl who has reached puberty.
The traditional leader said all bad initiations in the Chewa chiefdom will no longer be allowed.

Paramount Chief Gawa Undi identified seven cultural practices which have been banned to align Chewa customs with modern times.